Veterinary Assistant Salary and Job Outlook Sunny

Career Opportunities for Vet Assistants Continue to Grow

The average veterinary assistant salary and current job outlook are sunnyWith the current economic situation, it may seem impossible to find a career path, but the pet industry is exploding and shows no sign of slowing. If you love pets and want an animal care job, then now is the right time for you to consider becoming a vet assistant. Recent statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest that enrolling in a veterinary assistant school, such as Animal Behavior College, will get you on the fast track to a great career.

Vet Assistant Job Projections

The projections show that the employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is expected to rise by 41 percent by 2016 — much faster than the projected rate of growth for all industries. The reason for this is simple: despite the recent economic downturn, people are still willing to pay big money for veterinary care and treatment for their pets, as they consider them to be a valuable part of the family. As the number of dogs and cats who are treated as pets continues to grow, so does the number of vet assistants needed to help care for them.

Educated Employees Needed

There is also a high number of veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants who will be leaving the industry within the next few years, and a limited number of people who are qualified to replace them in the workforce. There are fewer than 3,000 vet assistants expected to graduate from two-year programs each year based on the limited number of qualified veterinary assistant schools and the relatively small class sizes. It is important to find a school that specializes in animal–related career training like Animal Behavior College’s Veterinary Assistant Program. Their courses include in-home study paired with hands-on training to provide students with a well-rounded education. Since there is always a need for animal care, veterinary assistant graduates will find that this field is considered to be very stable with little chance of layoffs.

Compensation

Veterinary assistants are also well-compensated for their hard work. The most recent salary survey figures show the average vet assistant makes almost $15 an hour and could make much more depending on where they live and which industry they work in. Most people only think of veterinary assistants working in veterinarians’ offices, but there are career opportunities in museums, zoos, aquariums, rescues and shelters as well.